UK: New deal with France to stop small boat crossings ― First conviction under new crossing law ― Government closes 11 asylum hotels ― NGO report reveals shocking number of deaths of young asylum applicants ― NGO briefing raises concerns about female Afghan asylum applicants
The UK has signed a new agreement with France to prevent people from crossing the Channel in small boats. An Afghan national has become the first person to be convicted of endangering others during a sea crossing to the UK. The government has announced the closure of...
ITALY: Prime Minister offers to amend controversial ‘repatriation bonus scheme’ for asylum lawyers ― Activists at far-right rally call for ‘remigration’ ― Agreement with Tunisia to foster labour migration ― NGO report highlights criminalisation of humanitarians
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to amend a draft security law following widespread opposition to a controversial ‘repatriation bonus scheme’ for asylum lawyers. Participants in a far-right rally have repeated calls for the “remigration” of people out of...
ECRE Annual General Conference 2026
The ECRE Annual General Conference (AGC) 2026 will take place 09.00-18.00 on Thursday 4 June 2026 in Brussels, Belgium. Participation in the AGC is open to representatives of ECRE member organisations, other organisations (e.g. other NGOs, think tanks, academic...
ECRE Report: Study visit to Luxembourg on good practices in upholding the rights of asylum-seeking and refugee women and girls
In autumn 2025, ECRE and its partners from across Europe conducted a study visit to Luxembourg in order to examine national practices in safeguarding the rights of self-identified asylum-seeking and refugee women and girls. Organised under the ‘Empowerment and...
BALKAN ROUTE ― NGO questions fall in irregular border crossings ― Major rescue operation after boat incident on Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border ― Border guards in Croatia again accused of violence against people on the move ― Local opposition to new reception centre near Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina border
A new NGO report has raised doubts about the apparent decrease in the number of people using the Balkan migration route. A group of people have been rescued after their boat capsized as they tried to cross the river border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. A...
MEDITERRANEAN: Many dead and missing following spate of tragedies ― New detention facility opens in Cyprus ― NGO report highlights pushbacks and deaths in Aegean Sea ― Authorities in Italy continue to target NGO humanitarian vessels ― Italy referred to ICC Assembly over Almasri case
At least 100 people have died and dozens are missing following several incidents in the Mediterranean in recent weeks. Authorities in Cyprus have announced the partial opening of new pre-removal detention centre. A new NGO report has highlighted the extent of...
OP-ED: When solidarity becomes a crime
By Stanzen Lèh Jelsma When boats capsized, when engines failed and when people drifted between life and death, Tommy Olsen’s number was often one of the last remaining points of contact. On 16 March, this line fell silent. On that day, Norwegian humanitarian worker...
GREECE: Humanitarian arrested in Norway at Greece’s request ― Greek authorities accused of using ‘Afghan paramilitaries’ to attack people seeking asylum ― NGO data highlights situation of people on the move in Greece in 2025 ― Migration ministry begins co-operation with US authorities ― NGO report highlights situation in closed migration centres on Greek islands
The founder of an NGO that monitors and shares data relating to the movement of people in the Aegean Sea has been arrested by the Norwegian police at the request of authorities in Greece. The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has investigated...